The band was originally formed in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1990 by friends Merritt and (percussionist/pianist/vocalist) Claudia Gonson. While 1991's Distant Plastic Trees and 1992's The Wayward Bus (now most easily available together as a compilation, The Wayward Bus / Distant Plastic Trees) are sung by Susan Anway (b. 1951 - d. 2021), all subsequent albums are principally sung by Merritt himself.
Longtime members include: Gonson, (cellist) Sam Davol, and (banjo player/guitarist) John Woo. Contributors include (but are not limited to) the singers Susan Anway, Dudley Klute, Shirley Simms, and LD Beghtol, and the accordionist/writer Daniel Handler (famous for writing the childrens' books A Series of Unfortunate Events under the alias Lemony Snicket).
Their most popular and best-selling album to date is 69 Love Songs issued on Merge Records as a triple album filled with many fairly short songs that are reminiscent of early Beatles productions.
The album is notable for its employment of many unorthodox musical arrangements and downright impressive quantity of material presented. Instruments used on this album include the ukulele, banjo, accordion, cello, mandolin, piano, flute, xylophone guitars, various percussion instruments, and a standard setup of synths and effects. It features several guest vocalists on several different tracks. The album is a three CD set, released in the US as three separate albums (also available as a boxed set) and in the UK as a triple album.
The album i (2004, Nonesuch Records) continues Merritt's fixation on the concept album, with each of the 14 songs beginning with the letter (and often the pronoun) "I".
The album Distortion, was released through Nonesuch on the 15th January 2008 and introduced noise pop to the array of styles utilized in their music. The album's release was followed by a sold-out U.S. tour starting in February. Additional albums followed in 2010, 2012, 2017, and 2020.
Stephin Merritt is involved in several other musical projects: The 6ths (featuring different guest performers on every track), The Gothic Archies (songs dealing humorously with dark themes) and Future Bible Heroes (with music written by Chris Ewen)
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Fido
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You go where you don't belong
You've been digging in the rubble
Gettin' bitches in trouble
Fido, your leash is too long
Fido, your leash is too long
I don't know where I went wrong
When you do that Shitzhu
Fido, your leash is too long
Fido, you've gone far enough
I must have all of your love
You just run out of luck
I don't care what you fuck
Sounds lewd, but your leash is too long
These lyrics from The Magnetic Fields's song Fido are about a dog that is not well-behaved and seems to cause trouble wherever it goes. The dog's owner, who is addressing the pet in the song, is frustrated with Fido and the fact that its leash is too long, which allows it to roam freely and get into trouble.
The first verse is about Fido digging in the rubble, which can be interpreted as the dog getting into things that it shouldn't be getting into. The line "gettin' bitches in trouble" is a pun, as the word "bitches" refers to female dogs, but it can also be interpreted as the dog causing trouble for women. The chorus then repeats the line "Fido, your leash is too long," which can be seen as a metaphor for the owner not having enough control over the dog's actions.
The second verse highlights the owner's fear of Fido and its misbehavior, with the line "You scare me out of my wits." The reference to the "Shitzhu" is another pun, as the breed of dog is spelled "Shih Tzu," but with the lyrics altering its spelling to create a funny rhyme. The final verse seems to be the owner's ultimatum to Fido, telling the pet that it has gone too far and that the owner must have all of its love. The line "I don't care what you fuck" again uses a double meaning, as it can refer to Fido's actions with other dogs, or it can be seen as the owner not caring about what Fido does anymore since it must now stay within its limits.
Line by Line Meaning
Fido, your leash is too long
The dog is not being properly controlled, and allowed to wander too far.
You go where you don't belong
The dog is wandering into areas where it should not be, and may be causing problems.
You've been digging in the rubble
The dog has been getting into things it should not be, and may be causing damage.
Gettin' bitches in trouble
The dog may be causing problems or conflicts with other dogs, leading to trouble.
I don't know where I went wrong
The owner may feel responsible for the dog's behavior and regrets not controlling it better.
You scare me out of my wits
The dog's behavior may be alarming or intimidating to the owner.
When you do that Shitzhu
A play on words, referencing the breed of dog and possibly a bad behavior it has exhibited.
Fido, you've gone far enough
The owner recognizes the dog has been allowed too much freedom and needs to be reined in.
I must have all of your love
The owner wants the dog's affection and loyalty but is not receiving it due to lack of control.
You just run out of luck
The dog's free reign is over, and it will now be properly controlled.
I don't care what you fuck
A blunt statement indicating the owner's focus is now on controlling the dog and preventing bad behavior, rather than allowing it to mate.
Sounds lewd, but your leash is too long
A humorous aside, acknowledging the double meaning of some of the other lines, but ultimately emphasizing the need for proper control of the dog.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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